1.noun(grammar) A noun that is morphologically related to a verb and similar to it in meaning; in English, it contrasts with gerund and deverbal noun. It is a pure noun with no verbal force, so it cannot take an object or an adverb (as a gerund can), however, it can be part of a possessive construction (the visiting of a friend) and it can take an adjective (fast driving) as other nouns can. On the other hand, it still refers to the abstract action or occurrence implied in the verb, as opposed to (e.g.) its result, as a deverbal noun does.